The homicide investigation in to New England Patriots' Aaron Hernandez continued on Thursday as police searched his home. In a separate incident, Hernandez is being sued for allegedly shooting a Florida man in the face, TMZ reports.
State and local police searched Hernandez's North Attleborough, Mass. home on Thursday in connection with a nearby homicide, according to the Associated Press. Police also searched an industrial park located a mile from where the body was discovered on Monday.
Hernandez is linked to the homicide through a rented SUV with Rhode Island plates that police had been looking for. Hernandez isn't believed to be a suspect.
The 23-year-old may have to deal with trouble on another front, too. TMZ reported on Thursday a man claiming Hernandez shot him in February plans to re-file a lawsuit against him.
The initial lawsuit, which was filed in a Florida federal court on June 13, was dismissed four days later. The lawsuit, it turned out, was dismissed only because of an error in the paperwork.
The lawsuit stems from an altercation between Hernandez and the plaintiff, Alexander S. Bradley. The altercation allegedly occurred on February 13, 2013 outside a Miami strip club. Bradley claimed that both men got into the same car after the argument. Hernandez then allegedly aimed his weapon at Bradley during the ride and it discharged, striking the plaintiff in the arm, traveling to his face and striking his eye.
Bradley was found around 6:49 a.m. outside a John Deere store in Riviera Beach, Fla., according to the TMZ-reported police reports. The store manager who found Bradley described him as bleeding from the head and hand. When emergency responders reached the scene, Bradley was "refusing to cooperate and being 'rude' to personnel."
He never identified Hernandez in the police report; he claimed his attackers were "both Hispanic and black males."
Bradley is suing for more than $100,000 in damages. He contends he suffered major injuries, including the loss of his right eye, major facial reconstruction surgery and damage to his right hand and arm.
USA Today, however, reports that police have no record of the incident.
"We continue to receive inquiries regarding an alleged incident involving professional athlete Aaron Hernandez. After conducting research and based on the information that was received, the Miami-Dade Police Department does not have any documented incident on record," Det. Javier Baez said in a statement. "We will continue to research the incident, and as with any developing situation, the details may change."
